A Glimpse of Bath, Somerset

A charming little town flanked by historic buildings from the Roman era, that’s Bath for you. Be it a weekend getaway or an impromptu roadtrip, Bath lives up to your expectations of an English town. The moment we entered Bath, we felt like we stepped inside a storybook. The time we spent there was absolutely delightful. (Do I sound British yet?)

How to get to Bath

If you’re traveling from London and the cities around, you can rent a car and drive to Bath. If driving is not an option, I’d recommend pre-booking train tickets from London Paddington. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach Bath via rail and close to 3 hours by a bus coach. Buses are cheaper than trains but the latter are faster and reliable. Online reservations save time and efforts.

When to visit

The weather in Bath is not too different from London. June to September months witness the summer sun and a spike in visitors. More tourist means more events in the town. Regardless, Bath is always charming.

What to expect

GBP (Great Britain Pound or Pound) currency is accepted throughout UK. Currency Exchange outlets are available in the main market area (around Bath Abbey).
Pop ups and farmer’s markets spring up in the town during summer. Street musicians and performers flock at the Kingston Parade to showcase their talent.

How to get around

Exploring Bath

Advantage of visiting a small town is that you can explore the entire town on foot without wearing yourself out. We explored much more walking around by ourself than we would’ve otherwise. York Street, Cheap Street, Upper Borough Walls and a bunch of cute cafes. However, if you don’t wish to walk, hail yourself an Uber or a Taxi. There are local buses but we never felt the need to board one.

Where to stay in Bath

Comfortable Bed n Breakfast in Bath

Staying close to prime areas means expensive accommodations but you save on transportation. It’s a give and take. A4 or Upper Bristol Road / Monmouth Place has some pretty decent hotels – Brooks, The Bath House. For 4-star accommodation, Three Abbey Green is very popular. Loads of bed & breakfast options all around Bath. I stayed at a bed & breakfast listed on Airbnb.

What to eat

Small town yet wide fare. A bunch of our favorite breakfast and tea-rooms include Mokoko Coffee, The Bath Bun, The Courtyard Cafe, Hands Georgian Tea room. For meals, we picked up some of the most scrumptious street food from pop up carts, hit restaurants like The Scallop Shell and Corkage. With numerous ice-cream parlors all around the abbey we couldn’t help but indulge a bit so we picked up a scoop or two from David Thayer’s Ice-cream shop.
Perks of being in the English countryside is that you get to taste authentic delicacies. You absolutely must try ‘The Best Cornish Pastry in the World’ at the Cornish Bakehouse.
Before leaving from Bath, we quickly picked up fresh salads and sandwiches to go from Saintsbury and Tesco Express because I’m always curious about foodstuffs sold at supermarkets in different countries.

Top 5 things to do in Bath

Roman Baths

Roman Bath spring

The primary reason for visiting Bath is this! The Roman Baths are ancient ruins of a communal bath and massage complex that the Romans had established thousands of years ago. It’s astounding how ingenious this piece of history is! The ruins have been turned into a museum and preserved exceptionally well. They have projected videos of people from Roman era using different regions of the communal baths and made it into an unforgettable experience. Single adult ticket to the museum costs £16.50.

2. Thermae Bath Spa
And that’s the secondary reason for visiting Bath! Imagine immersing yourself in the hot springs concentrated with exotic minerals , the same springs that are also a source at the actual Roman Baths. Communal baths aka hot tubs, rooftop pools and saunas are too tempting to pass up. Rejuvenate with a body nourishing spa from the choices they offer.

3. Bath Abbey

Every European town/city has a beautiful cathedral and Bath is no different. The Bath Abbey is located in the center of the market area, with a huge courtyard ahead. Ornate carvings, stunning sculptures and exquisite works of art punctuate every surface of the Abbey. A good amount of work it must have taken to preserve these masterpieces.

4. The Corridor

A literal corridor that runs between Union Street and A3039, intersecting Union Passage in between, running right through a plaza that holds shops, Tearooms, Cafes and some other stores. I would recommend visiting this sight especially in summer due to the fact that dressing it up with flowers brings out the summery side of this English town.

5. The Jane Austen Centre

Walking to and fro from our bed & breakfast, a lilac dressed mannequin caught my eye and I rushed forward to check it out. Turns out, it was Jane Austen’s mannequin and the door it stood at belonged to Jane Austen’s house. For a while Jane Austen lived in this victorian house in Bath and worked on her novels. The store sells all her literary work along with other peculiar artifacts from the bygone era. A reasonably priced tour takes guests around the house once inhabited by the famous novelist.

Head to Bath on the next weekend and explore this quaint town at your own pace.

Hi! I’m Salouni..

I’m here to tell my travel stories and hopefully provide a source of inspiration for all you people in the process. A hardcore foodie, I'm also an experimental cook. I love making people laugh , which is why I share fictional anecdotes to tickle your funny bones. Hope you find your pick and enjoy the blog!Follow Slightly Sprightly Girl on WordPress.com

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